Ford Hikes Output as Falcons Fly Out of Oz Showrooms

In a last hurrah before folding its manufacturing tent, Ford Australia is being forced to more than double the production run of its performance flagship model, the Falcon XR8 sedan.

Initially Ford expected to sell about 1,200 XR8s, but has boosted this to 2,800 units.

“It’s been a runaway success, and our dealers have been asking for more,” Ford Marketing General Manager David Katic says in a statement.

Described as a future classic, the Falcon XR8 is being praised for the work the Australian-based engineering team has done to deliver its ride, handling and stopping power.

“We’re very proud of the work that’s gone into the XR8,” Katic says. “It’s an important halo to the FG X Falcon range and we wanted to deliver the ultimate handling performance machine for customers. They clearly love it.”

The engineering development team treated the XR8 program as a completely new car, rather than just slotting the high-performance Boss 5.0L, supercharged all-aluminum V-8 under the hood.

As a result, it received the best Ford Performance Vehicle GT RSPEC suspension and in contrast to standard GT suspension, the XR8 gains retuned rear dampers and springs; a larger rear stabilizer bar; retuned front dampers; stiffer front upper spring mounts; and a stiffer front upper control-arm bushing.

The Boss 5.0L V-8 features maximum power of 449 hp at 5,750 rpm and maximum torque of 420 lb.-ft. (570 Nm) at 2,200-5,500 rpm.